Gezichten op het interieur en exterieur van het Certosa di Pavia 1856 - 1881

Giacomo Brogi created this photo titled "Gezichten op het interieur en exterieur van het Certosa di Pavia" sometime in the mid-19th century. The image is a series of photographs of the Certosa di Pavia, a monastery complex in Lombardy, Italy. Brogi was part of a generation that saw photography as a means to document and celebrate Italian cultural heritage. This photograph isn't just a neutral record; it's a carefully curated presentation of Italian grandeur, meant to evoke a sense of national pride. Brogi’s images reinforced the prevailing cultural narratives of the time. They were part of constructing a unified Italian identity that often privileged certain narratives, particularly those of the dominant social classes. Consider how the architecture itself—grand, imposing, and overtly religious—reflects a specific set of values. It speaks to power, faith, and history, but perhaps less so to the everyday lives of the people who lived and worked in its shadow. These images invite us to think about who gets to shape the stories we tell about ourselves and our shared spaces.